The Effect of Preoperative Occlusion Therapy on Long-term Outcome after Surgery for Early-onset Exotropia

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of preoperative part-time occlusion therapy on long-term surgical success in early-onset exotropia. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent surgery for exotropia with onset before the first year of age and who were followed for ≥3 years were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the degree of compliance with part-time occlusion therapy: the good compliance group (>50% adherence rate) and the poor compliance group (≤50% adherence rate). Surgical success was defined as orthophoria to exodeviation less than 10 prism diopters both at distance and near. The level of postoperative stereopsis was compared between the two study groups among total enrolled patients and among those with constant exotropia. RESULTS: Of the 51 patients, 26 were assigned to the good compliance group and the remaining 25 patients to the poor compliance group. The surgical success rate was significantly higher in the good compliance group than in the poor compliance group (80.8% vs. 52.0%, p = 0.040). Among 24 constant exotropia patients (12 patients for each group), the success rate was insignificantly higher in the good compliance group than in the poor compliance group (75.0% vs. 58.3%, p = 0.448). The good compliance group had a better level of stereopsis than the poor compliance group (p = 0.045 for all 44 patients, p = 0.020 for 19 patients with constant exotropia). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative part-time occlusion therapy was useful for improving the surgical outcome of early-onset exotropia and postoperative stereopsis.

Postoperative Exodrift Patterns after Bilateral or Unilateral Lateral Rectus Recession in 20 Prism-diopter Intermittent Exotropia

PURPOSE: In the present study, the surgical outcome and postoperative exodrift pattern between bilateral lateral rectus recession (BLR) and unilateral lateral rectus recession (ULR) in intermittent exotropia of 20 prism diopters (PDs) were compared. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 5.0 mm BLR or 8.5 mm ULR was performed on 82 patients for the treatment of intermittent exotropia of 20 PDs with a follow-up period of 2 years. The main outcome measures were postoperative 1-week, 1-month, 6-month, 1-year and 2-year exodeviation angles with their patterns and success rates. A surgical success was considered an alignment within 10 PDs and sensory success was defined at 100 seconds of arc. RESULTS: The mean deviation angles at postoperative 1 week were 4.7 ± 5.1 PD esodeviation in the BLR group (44 patients) and 1.2 ± 4.2 PD esodeviation in the ULR group (38 patients). The BLR group was significantly more overcorrected than the ULR group (p = 0.001), but postoperative exodrift occurred in the BLR group at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. In the ULR group, the postoperative exodrift occurred at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months which was followed by stabilized alignment. Surgical success rate at the postoperative 2-year follow-up was 75.0% in the BLR group and 81.6% in ULR group (p = 0.717). CONCLUSIONS: ULR showed less overcorrection and early exodrift up to only 6 months, resulting in stabilization of the alignment afterwards; surgical success rate at the final 2-year follow-up was similar to BLR.

Recurrent Ophthalmoplegia Presenting Different Clinical Features in a Patient with Anti-GQ1b Antibody Syndrome

No abstract available.

Surgical Outcomes Dependent on the Amount of Hyperopia in Infantile Esotropia

PURPOSE: In the present study, short-term and long-term surgical outcomes dependent on the amount of hyperopia in patients with infantile esotropia were analyzed. METHODS: In this study, 80 patients with infantile esotropia who underwent both medial rectus recession from 2007 to 2011 and followed up for at least 36 months were retrospectively examined. The patients were divided into two groups according to the degree of hyperopia: ≥ +3.0 D (high hyperopia [HH], n = 59 patients) and < +3.0 D (non-high hyperopia [NH], n = 21 patients). Clinical characteristics analyzed included surgical success rate and dose-response relationship at the 3-month and 3-year postoperative follow-ups. RESULTS: Initial preoperative alignment (NH: 44.8 ± 10.2 PD, HH: 42.7 ± 11.6 PD, p = 0.450), surgical success rates (NH: 69.5% (41/59), HH: 71.4% (15/21), p = 0.837), under-correction rates (NH: 23.7% (14/59), HH: 9.5% (2/21), p = 0.191) and over-correction rates (NH: 6.8% (4/59), HH: 19.1% (4/21), p = 0.138) were not statistically significantly different between the NH and HH groups. A tendency towards a larger dose-response relationship was observed with HH (NH: 3.9 PD/mm, HH: 4.3 PD/mm) at the 3-month postoperative follow-up, but was not significant (p = 0.105). At the 3-year postoperative follow-up, exodrift was in progress and the dose-response relationship was significantly higher in the HH group than NH group (NH: 3.9 PD/mm, HH: 4.9 PD/mm, p = 0.010). A difference between the groups with amblyopia was observed (NH: 8.5% (5/59), HH: 23.8% (5/21), p = 0.146), although without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical success rate of infantile esotropia was not statistically associated with the amount of hyperopia. There was no statistical association between the dose-response relationship and amount of hyperopia at the postoperative 3-month follow-up, but a statistical association was found in the high dose-response relationship in the HH group at the postoperative 3-year follow-up. Therefore, the conventional amount of recession or muscle resection should be modified in high hyperopic (≥ +3.0 D) infantile esotropia, and long-term postoperative follow-up is necessary.

The Long-Term Outcome of Lateral Rectus Advancement in Patients with Consecutive Esotropia Following Bilateral Lateral Rectus Recession for Intermittent Exotropia

PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term outcome of lateral rectus (LR) advancement for consecutive esotropia following bilateral LR recession for intermittent exotropia. METHODS: Medical records of 25 patients who underwent LR advancement for consecutive esotropia after bilateral LR recession and who were followed up for more than 24 months postoperatively were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: bilateral lateral rectus recession (BLR) group included 16 patients with consecutive esotropia greater than or the same magnitude as the initial exotropia and who underwent bilateral LR advancement; Unilateral lateral rectus recession (ULR) group included nine patients with consecutive esotropia less than the initial exotropia and who underwent unilateral LR advancement. Main outcome measurements were motor and sensory outcomes and the dose-effect relationship calculated from observed overall and group changes in the angle of deviation per millimeter. Motor success was defined as alignment from orthotropia to exodeviation less than 10 PD at distance. Sensory outcome was described by comparing the Titmus stereoacuity test before and after LR advancement. Sensory successvwas defined at 100 seconds of arc. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (72.0%) showed satisfactory long-term motor and sensory outcomes. Seventeen (77.3%) of 22 patients showed favorable stereopsis of 100 seconds of arc or more at final observation. The long-term motor success rate of the ULR group was better than that of the BLR group (p = 0.025). The average observed change in the angle of deviation was 3.6 PD/mm at the final visit in all patients. A greater dose-effect relationship was observed in the ULR group than in the BLR group at the final visit (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: LR advancement showed favorable motor and sensory outcomes in the majority of patients. The surgical outcome was not favorable in patients in the BLR group with consecutive esotropia of the same magnitude as the initial exotropia. These results require further investigation for verification.

Comparison between Retinal Tear and Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment as the Cause of Dense Vitreous Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: To analyze retinal tears and to compare the clinical outcomes between retinal tear and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) as the cause of dense non-diabetic vitreous hemorrhage in patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery. METHODS: In a retrospective case series, the medical records of patients who presented dense non-diabetic vitreous hemorrhage and who underwent vitreoretinal surgery between January 2005 and June 2009 were reviewed. Among the 134 patients, 27 patients had dense vitreous hemorrhage caused by retinal tears. The first group had retinal tears only and the second group had accompanying RRD. A comparison of clinical features and postoperative prognoses between the two groups was performed. RESULTS: Among the 27 eyes with non-traumatic retinal tear and RRD, 18 were categorized into the retinal tear group and 9 to the RRD group. The demographic findings between the two studied groups exhibited no significant differences except for time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis. However, the time to diagnosis was significantly delayed in the group with RRD (22.67 +/- 37.47 days) compared to the retinal tear group (5.00 +/- 3.41 days) (p = 0.035). The amount of visual improvement was also greater in the retinal tear group than the RRD group (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Retinal tears are a major cause of non-diabetic vitreous hemorrhage. Vitreous hemorrhage caused by retinal detachment may result in delayed diagnosis and poor visual recovery. Therefore, early examinations in suspicion of RRD and appropriate treatments are needed in non-diabetic vitreous hemorrhage.

The 23-Gauge Sutureless Vitreoretinal Surgery in Previously Vitrectomized Eyes

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of major complications including postoperative hypotony after 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy in previously vitrectomized eyes. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed medical records of 52 eyes, which underwent 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy of previously vitrectomized eyes by a single surgeon. Major outcomes were postoperative hypotomy (<6 mmHg), intraoperative sclera shrinkage during sclerotomy,and other postoperative complications. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed that included 212 eyes with primary vitreoretinal surgery in order to validate secondary vitreoretinal surgery as a significant risk factor of postoperative hypotony. RESULTS: Postoperative hypotony occurred in 4 eyes (7.7%) out of 52 eyes that underwent a second vitrectomy. The odds ratio of the second vitreoretinal surgery (OR=1.15, p=0.283) was not significant by multiple logistic regression analysis that included age, sex, axial length of globe, and the number of surgeries as the independent variables. Choroidal detachment occurred in one eye but disappeared three days later. The intraocular pressure was normalized within one week in all cases. Scleral shrinkage during sclerotomy occurred in five eyes (9.6%), and there were no other major complications, such as endophthalmitis. CONCLUSIONS: A 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrecomy of previously vitrectomized eyesshowed a 7.7% incidence of postoperative hypotony and favorable prognosis.

Fundus Examination Rate in Diabetics and the Public Health Factors Associated With Fundus Examination Rate

PURPOSE: To investigate the fundus examination rate in diabetic patients and the public health factors associated with the fundus examination rate. METHODS: We analyzed the results of the third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We investigated the fundus examination rate in patients who had diabetes mellitus for more than 3 months during the previous year and determined the relationship of public health factors with the fundus examination rate. RESULTS: In all 547 patients (38.1%) received the fundus examination out of 1,437 total patients with diabetes mellitus. We found that many public health factors influenced the higher fundus examination rate, including patients who were residents in urban areas, women, office workers, university graduates, patients with a higher family income or more than 5 years duration of diabetes mellitus, patients with current insulin treatment, treatment of diabetes mellitus, education about diabetes mellitus, subjective visual problems or subjective health problems. However, age, marital status, health insurance and residential district did not influence the fundus examination rate. CONCLUSIONS: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is the largest health survey in Korea. This study is meaningful as a population-based study, not a clinic-based cross-sectional study and it suggests the basic data for improving the fundus examination rate in diabetes mellitus patients.

A Case of Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome in a Patient Using Tamsulosin

PURPOSE: To report a case of Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS) experienced during pars plana vitrectomy and phacoemulsification in a patient using tamsulosin, which is a selective alpha 1 adrenergic antagonist. CASE SUMMARY: A 77-year-old male who had used tamsulosin for the previous month for prostate cancer visited our clinic with left visual disturbance, that had developed a week earlier. The best-corrected visual acuity of the left eye was 0.02 and both pupils showed incomplete mydriasis. Pars plana vitrectomy and phacoemulsification with PCL implantation were performed on his left eye to correct a left cataract and retinal vein occlusion with vitreous hemorrhage. Phacoemulsification idenfied a billowing iris and progressive pupillary constriction. Therefore, we administered an intracameral epinephrine injection and applied an iris hook. The procedure was completed successfully without any complications. The best-corrected visual acuity of the left eye was good as at 0.9, and iris depigmentation and atrophy were checked two months postoperatively in the right eye, which had not had any previous surgical history. CONCLUSIONS: A detailed medical history taking is essential because IFIS may raise the risk of intraoperative complications, such as posterior capsule rupture, especially when the small pupil is small. Safe procedures must be planned with cessation of tamsulosin at least a week preoperatively.

2007 Survey for KSCRS Members: Current Trends in Refractive Surgery in Korea

PURPOSE: To investigate the current situation and future trends in the field of refractive surgery in Korea. METHODS: Since 1995, the members of the Korean Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (KSCRS) have been annually surveyed on cataract and refractive surgery. The 2007 annual survey, consisting of 66 multiple-choice questions, was mailed in August 2008 to 336 KSCRS members. Fifty (14.9%) members answered. Current data were compared with those of previous annual survey and with those of the USA. RESULTS: The respondents in their forties accounted for the highest percentage (38%) of the subjects, and VISX S4 was the most popularly used (32%). The use of IntraLase femtosecond laser (AMO, USA) had increased. LASIK still accounted for the highest percentage (48%) of refractive surgeries. LASIK was preferred for myopia less than -8D, and phakic IOL was preferred for myopia more than -8D. Almost all the respondents answered that most promising refractive surgery is phakic IOL and the respondents who preferred LASIK decreased. CONCLUSIONS: This survey summarized current trends and changes in cataract and refractive surgery in Korea.

Epidemiological Characterization of Shigella flexneri Isolates in Korea and the Analysis of Pulsed - Field Gel Electrophoresis Patterns

We investigated the molecular epidemiological characteristics of the Shigella flexneri strains primarily isolated in the provincial health center from 1998 to 1999. Among 289 isolates of S. flexneri, 270 isolates (93A%) were confirmed as S. flexneri serotype 2a. The monthly isolation rate of S. flexneri strains was different from that of S, sonnei. S. flexneri strains were not isolated from July to August in 1998 but were isolated rarely during the same period in 1999. Shigella strains were isolated at higher rates in the areas of Chungbuk (64.4%), Busan (8.2%), Jeonnam (6.8%) in 1998 and in the areas of Busan (10.6%), Gangwon (9.3%), Gyeongnam (29.2%), Jeonbuk (4.2%) and Jeonnam (20.8%) in 1999. In these areas, the large outbreaks occurred with relatively high isolation rates of Shigella strain. Among 289 strains, 172 (59.5%) S. flexneri strains were isolated from female patients. Eighty-eight (30.4%) Shigella strains were isolated among the high risk age group of over 61 years. With the antimicrobial susceptibility tests, 284 isolates (98.3%) showed multiple resistance to more than four antibiotics, but all isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and cefoxitin. We could divide on isolates into 5 groups (A, B, C, D and E) by analyzing PFGE patterns. Group A subdivided as 16 subgroups and 270 (93.4%) strains belong to the group A. The PFGE patterns of strains isolated from outbreaks revealed that the was only little difference corresponding one to three bands among strains. This result indicates that our isolates are genetically related.

Investigation on the Immunity to Pertussis in the Korea

Acellular pertussis vaccine has been used widely in Korea since 1984. However, because many of the former generations were not inoculated with pertussis vaccine, they may infect infants with pertussis. With this background, we investigated the prevalence of pertussis antibodies in all age groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assess IgG antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and bacterial agglutination (BA) to assess antibodies to agglutinogen were compared on 842 serum samples which were donated from 11 hospitals in Seoul area. In comparison with age groups under 20 years, antibodies of adults against PT and FHA were maintained. But antibodies against agglutinogen showed no pattem in all age groups. Antibodies to PT were correlated with antibodies to FHA. There was no significant difference in antibody levels between male and female (p<0.05).

Serological Immunity to Diphtheria among Korean Population / 감염

BACKGROUND: Diphtheria epidemics in Russia have spread to all the other independent states of the former Soviet Union and East European countries around 1990s. One of the most important measures in preventing diphtheria is to maintain high levels of immunity in the population. We studied the diphtheria antibody levels of 1,086 participants to investigate herd immunity in Korea. METHODS: The tested 1,086 serum specimens were collected from healthy individuals from September 1995 to March 1996. Diphtheria antitoxin titers were measured by a micro cell culture method using Vero cells. Antibody titer of 0.01 IU/ml to neutralize diphtheria toxin is an internationally accepted protective level. RESULTS: We studied the diphtheria antitoxin titer levels of 1,086 cases consisting of 579 males and 507 females. The proportion of protective antitoxin level to diphtheria is 69.2%. Diphtheria antitoxin levels showed no significant difference between males and females. The highest seropositive rate was observed in the 5 to 9-year old age group(95.8%). The seropositivity rate declined with age. The lowest seropositive rate was observed in the 20~39 years of age, maximally 43.4 %. Over 40 years of age, the seropositive rates increased again. CONCLUSION: The antibody titers in the Korean population declined from 95.8% to below 50% with age in the 1~39 year-old age group. To maintain the rate of population with protective antibodies to diphtheria, we recommend Td booster immunization to adults with low antitoxin titers and continuous survey for antitoxin titers.